Footwear including an adjustable strap assembly

ABSTRACT

An article of footwear is provided and includes a sole having two opposing openings, and a strap having a first end and a second end, where the first end is inserted at least partially through one of the openings and the second end is inserted at least partially through the other of the openings, and where the first and second ends of the strap are movably attached to the sole. A strap adjuster is attached to the first end and the second end of the strap, where the strap adjuster enables a user to adjust a position of the strap relative to the sole to adjust the comfort and fit of the strap on a wearer&#39;s foot.

BACKGROUND

The present application relates generally to footwear, and more particularly, to footwear that includes an adjustable forefoot strap that enables a person to adjust the fit of the strap on the forefoot portion of their foot to enhance flexibility and comfort.

Feet come in many different sizes. Specifically, the length and width of feet vary widely. As a result, shoes styles come in many different sizes to accommodate the different sizes of peoples' feet. A person must therefore find the length and width of a particular style of shoe that fits their feet. The fit of a shoe also varies based on the particular use of the shoe. For example, a properly fitting running shoe should feel snug in the heel and midfoot, with some room around the toes.

Unfortunately, most shoes are not adjustable in length or width so if a shoe does not fit properly, there can be issues. Wearing badly fitting shoes can present numerous issues such as ingrown toenails, bunions, blisters, plantar fasciitis and circulatory problems.

For most people, wearing dress shoes is a toss up between pinched toes and aching feet. In particular, many women's dress shoes include long heels which place a foot an angle such that the foot is pressing forward in the shoe against the strap in the forefoot portion of the foot. The strap in the forefoot portion of the shoe is fixed to the sole of the shoe by stitching or other attachment method. Being fixed in place, the forefoot strap does not expand in width. In some cases, the strap is made of a material, such as leather, that will stretch over time. However, the amount of stretch is not consistent and the wearer experiences discomfort while the strap is being stretched. The forefoot straps on these shoes therefore cause significant discomfort to the wearer's feet.

Therefore, it is desirable to provide footwear that has an adjustable forefoot strap to enable the footwear to fit different sizes of feet and to enhance comfort.

SUMMARY

The present article of footwear includes a sole having a midsole and an outsole where the midsole and outsole combine to form a shell having a sidewall that extends above a footbed in the upper to cradle and align a wearer's foot in the article of footwear during use. The sole also provides stability and alignment to the foot by providing enhanced support on the medial a lateral sides of the foot.

In an embodiment, an article of footwear is provided and includes a sole having two opposing openings, and a strap having a first end and a second end, where the first end is inserted at least partially through one of the openings and the second end is inserted at least partially through the other of the openings, and where the first and second ends of the strap are movably attached to the sole. A strap adjuster is attached to the first end and the second end of the strap, where the strap adjuster enables a user to adjust a position of the strap relative to the sole to adjust the comfort and fit of the strap on a wearer's foot.

In another embodiment, an article of footwear is provided and includes a sole having an upper surface and an opening in the upper surface, and a strap having a first end and a second end. The first end of the strap is fixed to the upper surface of the sole and the second end of the strap is inserted at least partially through the opening and is movably attached to the sole. A strap adjuster is attached to the second end of the strap and positioned within the sole, where the strap adjuster is movable within the sole to enable a user to move the strap adjuster and adjust a position of the strap relative to the sole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an article of footwear including the present adjustable strap assembly;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an embodiment of the present adjustable strap assembly;

FIG. 3 is a top view of another embodiment of the present adjustable strap assembly;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a strap adjuster of the adjustable strap assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of an embodiment of a strap connecting member of the adjustable strap assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of another embodiment of the strap connecting member of the adjustable strap assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a rear view of the adjustable strap assembly of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of an article of footwear including another embodiment of the present adjustable strap assembly having a forefoot strap that is adjustable on one side;

FIG. 9 is a top view of an embodiment of a strap adjuster of the adjustable strap assembly of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10A is a rear view of the article of footwear of FIG. 8;

FIG. 10B is a perspective view of a cover that is attached to the article of footwear shown in FIG. 10A;

FIG. 11 is a top view of the article of footwear of FIG. 8 that includes another embodiment of a strap adjuster of the adjustable strap assembly;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary perspective view of a rotating member of the strap adjuster of FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a rear view of the article of footwear of FIG. 11.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present adjustable strap assembly includes a forefoot strap on an article of footwear having a sole, in which the position of the forefoot strap relative to the sole is adjustable to accommodate different sizes of feet and enhance the fit and comfort of the article of footwear.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an article of footwear generally indicated as 20, is shown and includes a sole 22 having a first end 24 and a second end 26, and a heel 28 extending from the second end. A heel strap 30 is attached to the second end 26 or heel portion of the sole 22 and is configured to be positioned behind and about a heel of a wearer's foot. The heel strap 30 may be a fixed length or may be adjustable to a desired length using a buckle connector or other suitable adjustment mechanism. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the heel strap 30 is attached to a medial side 32 and a lateral side 34 of the sole 22 by stitching, adhesive or any suitable attachment method.

An adjustable forefoot strap 36 is attached to the first end 24 of the sole 22 at or near the forefoot area of a wearer's foot. Each end 38, 40 of the forefoot strap 36 is inserted through corresponding openings 42, 44 in the opposing sides of the sole 22. The openings 40, 42 have a size, i.e., a height and a width, that corresponds to the size of the forefoot strap 36. More specifically, the openings 40, 42 are configured to be larger than the size of the strap 36 to allow movement of the ends 36, 38 of the forefoot strap through the openings while preventing dirt and other debris from entering the openings.

In this embodiment, the sole 22 has a body 46 with a bottom wall 48 and a peripheral wall 50 extending from the bottom wall. The peripheral wall 50 varies in height and defines a recessed area 52. As shown in FIG. 2, a strap adjustment assembly 54 is located in the recessed area 52 of the sole 22. The strap adjustment assembly 54 includes a channel 56 formed in the sole 22 where the channel includes a first channel member 58 extending between the opposing openings 42, 44, and a second channel member 60 that is transverse to the first channel member 58 and extends along a longitudinal axis 62 of the sole 22. In the illustrated embodiment, the second channel member 60 extends from the forefoot area to the heel area of the sole. It should be appreciated that the second channel member 60 may extend to any suitable portion of the sole 22.

Referring to FIG. 2, a strap adjuster 64 is attached to the ends 38, 40 of the forefoot strap 36 to adjust the position of the forefoot strap relative to the sole 22. To adjust the forefoot strap 36, the strap adjuster 64 includes a first connecting member 66 attached to a first end 38 of the forefoot strap, and a second connecting member 68 attached to the second end 40 of the forefoot strap. The ends 70, 72 of the first and second connecting members 66, 68 are attached to the first and second ends 38, 40 of the forefoot strap 36 by stitching, adhesive, molding or other suitable attachment method. The first and second connecting members 66, 68 are preferably made of an elastic material but may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials. In the illustrated embodiment, opposing ends 74, 76 of the first and second connecting members 66, 68 are attached to an adjustment member 78 that is positioned in and extends along the second channel member 60. It should be appreciated that the first and second connecting members 66, 68 may be attached to the adjustment member 78 by stitching or adhesive or integrally formed with the adjustment member.

The adjustment member 78 has a first end 80 attached to the first and second connecting members 66, 68 at or near the forefoot area of the sole 22, and a second end 82 that is in the heel area of the sole 22. The adjustment member 78 is configured to move within the second channel member 60 along the longitudinal axis 62 of the sole 22. As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of guide plates 84 extend over the second channel member 68 and are at different locations along the second channel member. The guide plates 84 each have a length and width where all of the guide plates may have the same length and width, at least one of the guide plates 84 may have a different length and width or all of the guide plates 84 may have different lengths and widths. The guide plates 84 are positioned over the second channel member 68 to help keep the adjustment member 78 within the second channel member and guide the adjustment member during movement of the adjustment member within the second channel member of the channel 56. In the illustrated embodiment, the strap adjuster 64 includes three guide plates 84, but may have one or more guide plates as needed to guide the adjustment member 78 within the second channel member 68. The guide plates 84 may be separate parts that are attached to the sole 22 or integrally formed with the sole 22.

The strap adjuster 64, and more specifically, the adjustment member 78 includes a tab 86 at one end to enable a wearer to grip the tab and pull the adjustment member towards the heel 28 of the sole 22 and move the adjustment member within the second channel member 68. The tab 86 is preferably integrally formed with the adjustment member 78. In another embodiment, the tab 86 is a separate part that is attached to the adjustment member 78 by stitching, adhesive or other suitable attachment method. To secure the tab 86 in position, and thereby the strap adjuster 64 in position on the sole 22, the tab 86 is removably secured to an attachment area 87 on the heel, where in an embodiment, the attachment area includes a hook and loop attachment system. Specifically, a bottom surface of the tab 86, i.e., the surface facing the sole 22, includes a plurality of hooks 88, and the attachment area 87 on a top surface of the sole 22, includes loops 90. The hooks 88 on the tab 86 engage the loops 90 on the sole 22 to hold the tab in a desired position on the sole. The tab 86 is removed from the sole 22 by lifting the tab to disengage the hooks 88 from the loops 90. The tab 86 can then be moved to a different position on the sole 22 and the hooks and loops re-engaged. In other embodiments, the tab 86 may be secured by snaps, adhesive or other suitable removable attachment methods.

The strap adjustment assembly 54 in this embodiment enables a wearer to adjust the position of the forefoot strap 36 by moving the strap adjuster 64 relative to the sole 22. More specifically, when a wearer wants to adjust the position of the forefoot strap 36 relative to the sole 22, the wearer removes footbed 92 from the recessed area 52 of the sole 22 as shown in FIG. 2. The wearer then lifts the tab 86 away from the sole 22 to disengage the hook and loop connection. If the wearer wants to tighten the forefoot strap 36 relative to their foot, i.e., move the forefoot strap closer to the top surface of their foot or the sole 22, the wearer moves the adjustment member 78 toward the heel 28 of the sole 22, which in turn, pulls the first and second connecting members 66, 68 toward the second channel member 68 and thereby the heel 28. The inward movement of the first and second connecting members 66, 68 pulls the ends of the forefoot strap 36 inward within the sole 22 and moves the forefoot strap 36 closer to the top surface of the sole 22. When the desired position of the forefoot strap 22 is achieved, the wearer connects the tab 86 to the sole 22 using the hook and loop connection, and replaces the footbed 92 in the recessed area 52 of the sole 22.

To loosen the forefoot strap 36, the wearer removes the footbed 92 from the recessed area 52 of the sole 22, lifts the tab 86 away from the sole 22 to disengage the hook and loop connection, and moves the adjustment member 78 towards the forefoot area by either pushing on the tab 86, lifting or pulling the forefoot strap 36 or by a combination of pushing the tab 86 and pulling on the forefoot strap 36. When the forefoot strap 36 is in a desired position relative to the surface of the sole 22, the tab 86 is connected to the sole 22 as described above, and the footbed 92 is placed in the recessed area 52 of the sole 22.

Referring now to FIGS. 3-7, another embodiment of the adjustment strap assembly 94 is shown where the adjustment strap assembly includes a T-shaped tube 96 embedded in the sole 22. Alternatively, a T-shaped channel 98 may be formed within the sole 22. As shown in FIG. 3, the T-shaped tube 96 includes a first part 100 that extends generally transverse to a longitudinal axis 102 of the sole 22 and between opposing openings 104 in the sole. A second part 106 of the T-shaped tube 96 extends from the first part 100 and generally along the longitudinal axis 102 of the sole 22 to the back of the heel. The first part 100 of the T-shaped tube 96 has a size, i.e., length and width, or diameter, that is greater than a size of forefoot strap 108 such that the ends of the forefoot strap may move at least partially within the first part 100 of the tube 96.

In this embodiment, a strap adjuster 110 includes a strap member 112, such as a line, cord or string, that has a connecting part 114 in the first part 100 of the tube 96, where the connecting part 114 is attached to the opposing ends of the forefoot strap 108, and an adjustment part 116 that extends from the connecting part 114 to the heel within the second part 106 of the tube 96. The first and second parts 100, 106 of the tube 96 have a size that is greater than the size of the strap member 112 so that the strap member is able to move within the tube 96. It should be appreciated that the strap member 112 is preferably made of a resilient material that enables the strap member to stretch and compress within the tube 96. The strap member 112 may also be made of other suitable materials or combination of materials. In the illustrated embodiment, the strap member 112 may be an integral component where the connecting part 114 and the adjustment part 116 are integrally formed together as shown in FIG. 5. In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the connecting part 114 includes a medial member 118 and a lateral member 120 that are each separately attached to the adjustment part 116.

Referring to FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the tube 96 extends to the heel and has an opening 122 in a securing area 124 on the back of the heel. A tab 126 is attached to the strap member 112 of the strap adjuster 110 and is removably connected to the securing area 124. Specifically, the securing area 124 includes a plurality of loops 128 and a side of the tab includes a plurality of hooks 130, where the hooks on the tab 126 attach to the loops in the securing area 124 to secure or fix the tab, and thereby the strap adjuster 110 at a desired position. To remove the tab 126 from the securing area 124, the tab 126 is lifted away from the securing area 124 to disengage the hooks 130 from the loops 128 and the tab may be moved to a different position in the securing area 124. It should be appreciated that any suitable attachment mechanism may be used to removably secure the tab 126 to the heel of the sole 22.

To adjust the forefoot strap 108, the tab 126 is disengaged from the securing area 124 on the heel and pulled outwardly to tighten the forefoot strap, i.e., move the forefoot strap 108 closer to the upper surface of the sole 22, or moved inwardly toward the sole 22 to allow the strap adjuster 110 to move inwardly and allow the ends of the forefoot strap 108 to move outwardly from the sole 22, to loosen the forefoot strap. When the desired level of fit of the forefoot strap 108 on the forefoot area of a wearer's foot is achieved, the tab 126 is engaged with securing area 124 on the heel to attach the tab 126 to the heel and fix the forefoot strap 108 in place. This process is repeated to tighten or loosen the forefoot strap 108 relative to a wearer's foot.

Referring to FIGS. 8, 9, 10A and 10B, another embodiment of the strap adjustment assembly is illustrated and generally indicated as 132, and includes a forefoot strap 134 attached to a sole 136 of an article of footwear, such as a shoe 138 with a heel 139 as shown in FIG. 8. The forefoot strap 134 has a first end 140 and an opposing second end 142. The first end 140 is attached to or fixed to the sole 136, and more specifically, to an upper surface 144 of the sole 136. The second end 142 of the forefoot strap 134 is movably attached to the sole 136. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the second end 142 is inserted through an opening 146 in the sole 136 and extends at least partially within a receptacle 148 within the sole. An enclosed channel 150 extends from the receptacle 148, along a longitudinal axis 152 of the sole 136 and to the heel 139. An opening 154 is located in the heel 139 at the end of the channel 150. To adjust the position of the forefoot strap 134 relative to the sole 136, a strap adjuster 156 including a cord or line 158 is attached to the second end 142 of the forefoot strap 134. The line 158 extends from the second end 142 of the forefoot strap 134 and through the channel 150 to the heel 139. In the illustrated embodiment, the line 158 is made of a strong, flexible material that resist breaking from friction and environmental conditions, such as extreme heat or cold. In an embodiment, the line 158 is made of Kevlar®. It should be appreciated that the line may be made of any suitable material or combination of materials.

An end 160 of the line 158 extends through the opening 154 in the heel 139 and is attached to a tab 162. The tab 162 has a size and shape that enables it to be gripped by a wearer of the shoe 138. A surface 164 of the tab 162 includes a connecting portion 166 that engages a corresponding securing area 168 on the heel 139 as shown in FIG. 10A. In an embodiment, the connecting portion 166 includes a plurality of hooks 170 and the securing area 168 includes a plurality of loops 172, such as hooks and loops associated with Velcro®, that removably secures the tab 162 to the securing area 168 when the hooks 170 on the tab 162 engage the loops 172 of the securing area 168. It should be appreciated that the loops 172 may be on the tab 162 and the hooks 170 may be on the securing area 168. It should also be appreciated that the tab 162 may be removably secured to the securing area 168 using an adhesive or other suitable attachment method. As shown in FIG. 10B, a cover 174 may be attached to the securing area 168 to cover the securing area when the tab 162 is secured in position on the heel 139.

To adjust the forefoot strap 134, a wearer disengages and lifts the tab 162 away from the securing area 168 on the heel 139 and pulls the tab, which in turn, pulls the second end 142 of the forefoot strap 134 within the sole 136 to tighten the forefoot strap by moving the forefoot strap inwardly and closer to the sole 136. The wearer may also loosen the forefoot strap 134 by disengaging the tab 162 from the securing area 168 and pulling on the forefoot strap 134 to move it away from the sole 136, which also causes the tab 162 to move inward towards the opening 154 in the heel 139. When the desired fit of the forefoot strap 134 on the wearer's foot is achieved, the wearer secures the tab 162 to the securing area 168 as described above. The strap adjuster 156 thereby enables a wearer to adjust the fit of the forefoot strap 134 on their foot and enhance the comfort of the shoe.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 to 13, a further embodiment of the strap adjustment assembly is shown and generally indicated as 176, and includes a forefoot strap 178 having a first end 180 and second end 182. Similar to the previous embodiment, the first end 180 of the forefoot strap 178 is attached to or fixed to the sole 184 and the second end 182 is inserted through an opening 186 in the sole 184 and into a receptacle 188 within the sole. The second end 182 of the forefoot strap 178 is movable through the opening 186 and in and out of the receptacle 188 by a strap adjuster 190. In this embodiment, an enclosed channel 192 is formed in or molded in the sole 184 and extends from the receptacle 188, along a longitudinal axis 194 of the sole 184 and to the heel 196. A cord or line 198, such as a Kevlar® line, is attached to the second end 182 of the forefoot strap 178 and extends through the channel 192 and to the heel 196. The heel 196 includes an adjustment area 200 at the end of the channel 192, and an opening 202 leading to the adjustment area.

In this embodiment, a rotating member 204 is positioned in the adjustment area 200 and is attached to an end of the line 198. The rotating member 204 includes a first post 206, a flange 208 and a second post 210. The first post 206 is attached to the line 198 and the second post 210 extends at least partially through the opening 202 and away from the heel 196 as shown in FIG. 11. The rotating member 204 is movable or rotatable in both a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction.

To tighten the forefoot strap, a wearer grabs the second post 210 and rotates the rotating member 204 in the clockwise direction, which in turn, causes the line 198 to coil about the first post 206 similar to a fishing line on a reel. As the line 198 coils about the first post 206, the length of the line 198 shortens and pulls the second end 182 of the forefoot strap 178 within the receptacle 188 to tighten the forefoot strap, i.e., move the forefoot strap towards the sole 184.

To loosen the forefoot strap, the wearer grabs the second post 210 and rotates the rotating member 204 in a counter-clockwise direction, which causes the line 198 to uncoil from the first post 206 and add to the overall length of the line. A wearer then may pull on the forefoot strap 178 to release the amount of slack in the line 198 produced by rotating the rotating member 204 and uncoiling the line from the first post 206, to move the forefoot strap away from the sole.

In this way, the strap adjuster 190 enables the wearer to adjust the position of the forefoot strap 178 relative to the sole 184 to enhance the fit and comfort of the forefoot strap on the wearer's foot. In the illustrated embodiment, the second post 210 may have ridges, bumps, grooves or other configurations to enable a wearer to be able to securely grasp or grab the second post to turn or rotate the rotating member 204 in a desired direction.

While particular embodiments of the present strap adjustment assembly for an article of footwear have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention in its broader aspects and as set forth in the following claims. 

1. An article of footwear comprising: a sole having two opposing openings and a channel extending across a width of said sole; a strap positioned in said channel and having a first end and a second end, the first end being inserted at least partially through one of said openings and the second end being inserted at least partially through the other of said openings, the first and second ends of the strap being movable within said channel of said sole; and a strap adjuster attached to the first end and the second end of said strap, wherein said strap adjuster enables a user to adjust a position of said strap relative to said sole.
 2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said sole includes a longitudinal axis and a longitudinal channel extending along said longitudinal axis and said strap adjuster is positioned in said channel.
 3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein said sole includes a peripheral wall defining a recessed area, and wherein said longitudinal channel is in said recessed area.
 4. The article of footwear of claim 3, further comprising a footbed that is removably seated in said recessed area and configured to cover said longitudinal channel.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said strap adjuster includes a first connecting member attached to the first end of said strap and a second connecting member attached to the second end of said strap, and an adjustment member.
 7. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said strap adjuster includes a first end attached to said first end and said second end of said strap, and a second end that includes a tab, said tab being removably secured to an attachment area on said sole.
 8. (canceled)
 9. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the strap adjuster includes a line attached to said first end and said second end of said strap and a rotating member attached to an end of said line, said rotating member being rotatable in a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction, wherein rotating said rotating member in a clockwise direction causes said end of said line to coil on said rotating member and causes said at least one end of said strap to move into said opening of said sole, and wherein rotating said rotating member in a counter-clockwise direction causes the line to uncoil from said rotating member and causes said at least one end of said strap to move out of said opening in said sole.
 10. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said first opening is on a medial side of said sole and said second opening is on a lateral side of said sole.
 11. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein said sole includes a T-shaped tube, and said strap adjuster is movable within said tube and attached to said first end and said second end of said strap, wherein an end of said strap adjuster extends from an opening in a heel portion of said sole.
 12. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein said end of said strap adjuster has a tab that is removable attached to a securing area on said heel.
 13. An article of footwear comprising: a sole having an upper surface and an opening in said upper surface; a strap having a first end and a second end, the first end being non-removably fixed to said upper surface of said sole and said second end being inserted at least partially through said opening and being movably attached to said sole; and a strap adjuster attached to said second end of said strap and positioned within said sole, wherein said strap adjuster is movable within said sole to enable a user to move said strap adjuster and adjust a position of said strap relative to said sole.
 14. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein said sole includes an enclosed channel extending from said opening to a heel opening in a heel portion of said sole.
 15. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein said strap adjuster includes a line in said enclosed channel, said line being attached to said second end of said strap and extending through said heel opening.
 16. The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein an end of said line extends from said heel opening and includes a tab, said tab being removably attached to a securing portion on said heel portion.
 17. The article of footwear of claim 15, wherein said line is made of a high strength, synthetic fiber.
 18. The article of footwear of claim 13, wherein said strap adjuster includes a line and a rotating member attached to said line, wherein rotation of said rotating member in a clockwise direction causes said line to coil about said rotating member and pull said second end of said strap through said opening and into said sole, and wherein rotation of said rotating member in a counter-clockwise direction causes said line to uncoil from said rotating member and enable said second end of said strap to move outwardly from said opening in said sole. 